NHLer due in court on Thursday

Colorado Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov, left, from Russia, loses sight of the puck as he stops a shot from Calgary Flames' Lee Stempniak during first period NHL hockey action in Calgary, Alta., Wednesday, March 27, 2013.Photo: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

The girlfriend told investigators that Varlamov kicked her in the chest, knocking her down, and stomped on her chest as she lay on the ground in her apartment on Monday, according to an arrest affidavit. The girlfriend, whose name was redacted, also accused Varlamov of dragging her by her hair and telling her that he would have beaten her more if they had been in Russia.

Varlamov appeared in court briefly Thursday. He spent the night in jail after turning himself in on Wednesday. He stood next to his lawyer to face Denver County Judge Claudia Jordan, who also told him, through a Russian interpreter, that he couldn’t drink or possess firearms. He also had to sign a waiver that he would be immediately sent back to Colorado if he fled.

The 25-year-old turned himself in to police Wednesday evening, after practising with the team that day. He was arrested on suspicion of second-degree kidnapping and third-degree assault.

Varlamov’s agent, Paul Theofanous, said he “is completely innocent of all of these charges.”

Varlamov’s lawyer, Jack Rotole, declined to comment on the case, saying he would defend his client in court.

He told the judge that the team is standing behind Varlamov.

“He has the full and total support of the Colorado Avalanche,” he said.

PHOTO: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images Oilers Ryan Jones tries to get off a shot against Avalanche Semyon Varlamov April 19, 2013 in Denver.

The Avalanche said in a statement that they were aware of the allegations but wouldn’t comment further until the conclusion of the investigation.

Varlamov’s teammates took to the ice for practice on Thursday about the time he appeared in court. Afterward, they tried to dodge the topic of his case.

The Avalanche are off to a torrid 10-1 start and have become the talk of hockey under first-year coach Patrick Roy. Duchene doesn’t think this will derail the Avalanche.

“You just don’t think about it,” Duchene said. “It’s tough. You’re concerned about your teammate. We all love Varly in here. I can’t say enough great things about him. I think we’re all pretty confident this is going to get resolved pretty quickly.”